Stablemates battle it out in Juvenile

Smarty River Pants will put his undefeated record on the line when he runs in the $75,000 Canadian Juvenile on Sunday at Century Downs. The 7 1/2-furlong dash drew 12 2-year-olds, but only 10 can start.

Betting opportunities abound on the 12-race card, which has 117 horses entered. Post time for the Juvenile is 4:27 p.m. Mountain.

Smarty River Pants, trained by Tim Rycroft, has yet to be seriously tested in four starts, and it appears the only horse that could upset him is his stablemate Purple Storm.

Purple Storm began his career at Hastings with trainer Craig MacPherson, finishing third in a maiden special weight race won by Explode, who came back to romp by 6 1/4 lengths in the $75,000 Ascot Graduation.

Purple Storm made his next start at Century Downs for Rycroft, and despite being fractious in the gate and getting off to a poor start, he won the $49,000 CTHS Sales Stakes by two lengths on Oct. 7.

He will need to improve to beat Smarty River Pants, who dominated his opponents in three starts at Northlands Park – a maiden race, the Princess Margaret, and the Birdcatcher – and was under wraps in the final sixteenth when he won the $50,000 Alberta Premier’s Futurity on Sept. 16 at Century Downs.

Rycroft likes the way Purple Storm is training, but found it hard to go against Smarty River Pants, who will break from the outside post with his usual rider Wilmer Galviz aboard.

“We have schooled Purple Storm a lot, so hopefully he’ll be a lot better in the starting gate Sunday,” Rycroft said. “Smarty River Pants is training strong, though. I am expecting a big performance from him. He likes to hunt horses, and it’s a long run to the first turn, so Wilmer should be able to get him into a good position to do just that.”

Purple Storm will break from the inside post with Rico Walcott retaining the mount.

KEY CONTENDERS

Smarty River Pants, by Afleet Alex Last 3 Beyers: NA-64-62

◗ Due to a timer malfunction, the Riversedge Racing Stables homebred didn’t receive a Beyer Speed Figure for the Alberta Premier’s. But the ones he received at Northlands stand out.

◗ He is a big, strong gelding, and being by Afleet Alex out of a Smarty Jones mare he should be fine with the slightly longer distance.

Purple Storm, by Storm Victory Beyers: 45-54

◗ He showed a lot of promise in his debut and overcame a lot to win the CTHS Sales Stakes in his only start at Century.

◗ His full brother Power Corrupt is a multiple route stakes winner on turf, so he should relish the added yardage.

Thatsafactjack, by The Factor Last 3 Beyers: 40-40-50

◗ The Greg Tracy-trained Kentucky-bred was no match for Smarty River Pants in his first two starts, but he may have improved since he romped in his last start, a maiden special weight race Aug. 18 at Northlands.